Dorner
Assembly Line
Conveyors Make Batteries Go Round
Today, conveyors are more than just a moving belt. They often feature a high level of intelligence. For instance, shuttles can communicate with each other and prevent upstream bottlenecks. Conveyors also support a variety of automatic identification technologies for process control and tracking. Running a production line requires cooperation from many moving parts. With tremendous growth in the battery industry projected to come over the next decade, every conveyor system needs to be scalable.
Conveyors can be designed with multiple diverters that work similarly to the railroad switches that direct trains. These check points can automatically scan items or manually be controlled to move products onto the correct track and send them off where they need to go. Often, this means either sending them into an automated storage system or to the next stage of the assembly line.
Traditional belt conveyors can be easily customized to achieve specific designs and assemblies, such as straights, curves, inclines, declines and Z-frames. Modular belts are available in surfaces that include flat top, flush grid and raised rib. Several materials are available for modular belts, including acetal, nylon, polyethylene and polypropylene. Materials for fabric belts include nylon, polyester, polyvinylchloride, silicone and thermoplastic urethane.
Flexible chain conveyors offer a variety of options with unique features, such as cleats, rollers, friction pads, steel top, anti-static and fabric belts. The easily reconfigurable systems are capable of multiple turns and inclines in one line. And, a low-profile design is ideal for tight spaces.
Pallet systems are an ideal fit for a number of operations because of the ability to run with the highly sensitive battery mounted to the pallet. These systems also offer a precise way for battery cells, modules and packs to interact with other steps in the operation. In addition, pallets can be placed in the right place and the right time to interact with assembly robots.